Smoking cessation devices, methods of use and methods of conducting business therewith

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides several smoking and tobacco use cessation devices and methods which entirely eliminate the requirement of ignition and burning of substances which emit harmful substances and vapors while simultaneously providing therapeutically efficacious amounts of nicotine and/or nicotine substitutes, and optionally tobacco aroma and taste and/or other undesirable habit inhibiting compounds and antagonists and other desirable orally ingestible substances.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive product and method is directed to smokingcessation devices, and particularly to cigarette props and facsimilesand/or other oral devices comprising nicotine replacement productsand/or other anti-habit or habit combating substances, and any orallydeliverable substance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco use, including snuff andthe like, are known to be major causes of otherwise preventable diseaseand death throughout the world. In fact, tobacco use is thought by someto be the most dangerous of habits as it kills more people each yearthan any other drug or addicting habit, with one of its major dangersbeing the conversion of nicotine, the most prevalent alkaloid found intobacco, by the body into chemicals that have been shown to causevarious diseases including lung cancer. See, for example, Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences 2000; 97:12493-12497, suggestingpathways the body may use to metabolize this addicting agent with theproduction of aminoketones which are direct contributors to theformation of NNK, a known tobacco-specific cause of lung cancer. In thisstudy extracts from human live cells were shown to convert nicotine toaminoketone which was further broken down into products found in asmoker's urine.

Nicotine is only part of the problem; however, as tobacco leaves containmany complex chemicals thought to be in excess of four thousand. Whentobacco is burned in the smoking process, such as through smokingcigarettes, a pipe or a cigar, these chemicals undergo transformationinto such compounds as arsenic, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, andother dangerous byproducts including carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide isparticularly dangerous as it has a stronger affinity to hemoglobin thanoxygen and will reduce the amount of available oxygen in a person'sblood supply, including those in contact with second hand smoke. It hasbeen estimated, for example, that smoking as little as one pack ofcigarettes a day may result in as much as 15% carbon monoxide saturationof the blood. Some adverse effects of such oxygen replacement, or“starvation”, of the body may be hindered muscle and mental function, aswell as the development of various lung diseases including emphysema,asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis,pneumoconiosis, pneumonia, congestive heart failure and generallydiminished lung capacity. Tobacco users can also expect to be at extremerisk of developing cancer of the lung, throat, mouth and esophagus,stoke, coronary heart disease, circulation problems and many otherdiseases.

Smoking tobacco in any form is also well known to endanger all those inclose proximity or in contact with smoking byproducts which pollute theair, otherwise known as secondhand smoke. Among a myriad of noxiouscompounds, second hand smoke contains formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide,radioactive compounds, known carcinogens such as benzene and otherpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The United StatesSurgeon General in 1990 has in fact issued a warning that passiveinhalation of secondhand smoke by non-smokers is extremely harmful.Several corroborating reports have concluded that secondhand smoke isindeed responsible for causing, inter alia, thousands of lung and throatcancer deaths per year, asthma attacks and respiratory problems,especially in children, heart disease and aggravation of pre-existingheart disease, cervical cancer, brain tumors, birth defects, and mayeven be a cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Tobacco use, especially smoking, also has many adverse consequencesbesides health deterioration, such as adverse economic effects in theform of outrageously expensive and highly taxed cigarettes, highinsurance premiums, cleaning, productivity, ventilation and accidentcosts.

However, despite the well documented extreme adverse effects of smoking,and tobacco use in general, many thousands of people who would like notto smoke or use tobacco simply cannot overcome the powerfully addictivenature of nicotine, or additionally, perhaps, customs, social behavior,moors, behavioral habits and other activities typically, ortraditionally, associated with smoking and tobacco use. To this end, anentire industry has evolved to combat and end tobacco use, or at leastcurtail its use, or in some instances to provide “safer” cigarettes.

Various smoking cessation devices are known to exist in several formsincluding some in which nicotine replacement methods are employed. Forexample, nicotine laden lollipops have recently been very popular, andhave apparently been effective in a number of peoples' efforts to reducesmoking. Such devices are available in a number of flavors with variousdosages of nicotine being present. These devices are fairly simple innature to manufacture, are widely available and known, and can be customcompounded by a number of pharmacies. Typically, when the need or desireto smoke a cigarette or cigar manifests itself the smoker will place thedevice in her mouth with available nicotine being adsorbed/absorbed intomouth tissues and thereafter the blood stream until the person's desirefor nicotine has been satisfied. The device is then replaced into itswrapper until the next session. However, the many acts associated withsmoking, such as holding a cigarette or cigar and the like withassociated hand to mouth actions, and which are oftentimes as much ahabit as smoking itself, are noticeably missing.

Some forays into the smoking cessation industry, or more aptly put, theso-called “safer cigarette” industry, by the major brands have been, forexample, Liggett and Myers efforts to market a cigarette containing,inter alia, various additives such as palladium, a metal used inautomobile catalytic converters, which supposedly removes carcinogensfrom smoke and combustion products. Apparently, the release of thisproduct was halted because its presence would have implied that smokingcigarettes and the like was indeed hazardous. In any event, some yearslater a successor company of Liggett and Myers introduced the Omni brandof cigarette which supposedly controls the amount of polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAH's) and Tobacco Specific Nitrosomines (TSNA's) (one ofthe most deadly carcinogens in tobacco smoke) created during thecombustion process. This introduction of this product, however, wouldseem to confirm the inherently deadly nature of cigarettes and othertobacco combustion devices for those who have previously thoughtotherwise.

RJR, noting that many carcinogenic compounds are produced in greaterquantity relative to higher combustion temperatures, has attempted toproduce controlled heat products. One such device called Premier is aglycerine based product with tobacco flavoring designed to look like acigarette, and which contains a fuel element in a heating ring, all ofwhich is contained in an aluminum cylinder. The aluminum cylindercontains beads of alumina coated with nicotine, glycerine and flavoring.The beads are heated by the fuel element with the heated glycerinecondensing into nicotine-laced smoke or vapor. According to smokinginstructions provided with the product, a butane lighter is required toignite the carbon fuel element. Again, the inherently deadly nature ofsmoking tobacco combustion products is corroborated by the developmentand presence of this product. The Premier brand eventually evolved intoa product called Eclipse, a true cigarette, in which a heating elementis provided to heat sheet tobacco laced with glycerine to emit tobaccoflavor without creating ash and smoke, and to provide a cigarette whichburns at a lower temperature, supposedly to reduce carcinogeniccombustion products. However, public health officials subsequentlyshowed that Eclipse, when compared to so-called “light” brands such asNow and Carlton, produced almost four times as much carbon monoxide andhigher levels of other carcinogenic PAH's.

The Philip Morris Co., has made its contribution with its Accord brandwhich is inserted into a specially designed electronic heating device,said to look like a kazoo, and which is equipped with sensors thatsupposedly heat a layer of sheet tobacco only to a point that results inreduced carcinogenic compound production, and with reduced side streamsmoke. To smoke a cigarette, a smoker sucks on the device and amicrochip which senses the puff sends a burst of heat to the cigarette.This product can only be smoked in its special electronic device, whichis cumbersome and impractical for use to say the least, and stillproduces deadly carcinogenic combustion products.

In another exemplified system, U.S. patent Publication No. 2003/0111088,Jun. 19, 2003, discloses a method and device for treating combination ofdependencies. As described, a medication delivery device is providedwhich introduces non-burning nicotine as a replacement for cigarettes(commonly referred to as nicotine replacement therapy or “NRT”) alongwith another drug in a “non-irritating” solution form to offer both oraland tactile stimulation. The combination formulation is said to beparticularly useful for the administration of nicotine and naltrexone totreat patients who are smokers and also suffer from another drugdependency, such as alcoholism. The device includes a tubular chamberwith a first end suitable for taking in a liquid from an external sourceand a second end suitable for oral application or suction. The tubularchamber contains nicotine and a second drug other than nicotine, such asnaltrexone, with a retainer preventing the release of the drugs. Uponoral suction by the user liquid enters the first end of the chamber froman external source, and apparently delivers the nicotine and second drugin solution or suspension form to the user. In another embodiment, thenicotine and second drug may be present in a pre-formulated solutionwhich is delivered to a user's mouth upon suction.

In somewhat similar manner to that above U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,083,962;5,861,422; 5,703,101; and 5,574,052 describe an agonist-antagonistcombination to reduce the use of nicotine and other drugs. In thisproduct and method, there is initially administered to a subject a drug,such as nicotine or another agonist of the drug, in an amount whichwould normally provide the desired pharmacological effects, ortherapeutic amount to satiate the needs of the drug by the user. Alsoadministered is an antagonist to the drug or its other agonist in anamount sufficient to at least partially block the pharmacologicaleffects of the drug or its other agonist while there is a substantialamount of the drug or its other agonist present in the system of theuser. In a preferred operation the drug and the antagonist aresimultaneously administered in an attempt to occupy a substantialportion of the receptors of the user for the drug to block or attenuatethe effects of any further intake of the drug or other agonist. Apreferred mode of administration of the agonist and antagonist is bytransdermal patch, or administration of the antagonist by an artificialsmoking device which can function as a disposable cigarette or areusable device equipped with a rechargeable ampoule. This referencealso unfortunately recommends an embodiment of doping a conventionalcigarette with an antagonist, such as mecamylamine, which can beproduced in an aerosolized form for inhalation by the user from theburning cigarette. Such an activity, of course, will actually encouragetobacco smoking or use, thereby defeating an object of the presentinvention to stop or curtail smoking.

Next, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,789 discloses a cigarette substitute devicefor non-pyrolytic use which, in response to suction supplied by a user,delivers to the user's lungs a nicotine-simulating vapor mixture, inplace of nicotine vapor, in which the mixture has a cigarette-like tasteand aroma. As described, the cigarette substitute has a structuresimilar to that of conventional cigarettes and prior-art non-pyrolyticcigarette substitute devices, and comprises an elongated tube with apassageway for drawing air through the device and a porous polymericmaterial disposed within the tube. A volatile liquid composition ispresent as being adsorbed within the porous polymeric material, and inwhich there is present a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carriermedium of a volatile nicotinomimetic agonist in an amount effective forits released vapors to satisfy the physiological needs for nicotine ofthe user. There is also present one or more volatile palatabilityenhancing agents in amounts effective for their released vapors toneutralize any unpleasant taste and aroma of the cigarette-like tasteand aroma to the released vapor mixture. This liquid composition isreferred to as “DEANATE”. As is known, the nicotinomimetic agonist is acompound effective to mimic the action of nicotine by binding tonicotinic or cholinergic receptors to release adrenergic receptors, suchas epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, and to simulate the actionof nicotine vapors to enable the action of the substitute cigarettedevice by satisfying the physiological needs for nicotine of the userwithout contributing to nicotine dependency, as do other disadvantagemethods and products such as described above.

In another simulated cigarette device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,042,510 there is provided a cigarette-like device that contains notobacco, is not intended to be lit, and includes a simulatedfilter/regulator and a barrel portion. This device is said to combat theurge to light up by satisfying various physiological needs such asholding, fondling, and placing the cigarette device between the lips ofthe user, along with sucking, puffing or drawing. The device is actuallydesigned to simulate the drawing sensation by placing transverseopenings in a simulated filter/regulator or tip which are in aircommunication with a longitudinal passageway, which is a separatecomponent from the barrel This arrangement is said to be a safeguard inthe event the fake cigarette is accidentally lit to prevent flames,smoke or hot gasses from passing through the air regulator and reachingthe mouth of the user. The barrel material is formed of non-toxic,self-extinguishing polymeric material which will not carry a flame inthe event of accidental ignition. This device is purely a prop orsimulated cigarette and is not a drug delivery product or method, suchas a nicotine replacement or other drug delivery devices discussedabove, and will not replace chemical dependency to satisfy the tobaccoaddict for long term cessation of tobacco use.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,995 there is disclosed compositions and articlesfor simulating taste receptors in the form of smoking and non-smokingmaterials, which are described as comprising a volatile-releasingsubstrate, adapted for size, configuration and material make-up forinsertion, at least partially, into the buccal cavity of humans. Thecomposition is also composed of a taste-receptor simulation proportionof volatilizable distillers dried soluble coated on the substrate. Thus,the main point of this device is to satisfy stimulation of the humantaste receptors with such compositions as byproducts of the liquordistillation process, such as distiller's dried grain with soluble(“DDGS”). DDGS is a product obtained from drying stillage or “slop”, theresidue after distillation and removal of alcohol from beer andfermented grain mash. In a smoking embodiment of this device distiller'sdried soluble (“DDS”), a concentrated liquid component of DDGS, ishomogeneously mixed with a smokable tobacco form, such as used incigarette and pipe-smoking blends. The use of typical tobacco additives,such as flavorants ( e.g. menthol), binders, humectants (propyleneglycol, sorbitol and the like), mold inhibitors, extenders and fillers(hydroxymethylcellulose), flavor enhancers and the like is alsorecommended. As discussed, when smoked, the DDS is volatilized and thevapor is brought into contact with the user's taste buds and smellreceptors. While this device can hardly be said to be a viablenon-smoking aid, or smoking cessation device, the disclosed distillerybyproduct by itself (without, of course, the propylene glycol and otheradditives) perhaps may be used as a taste stimulant for nicotinereplacement products, cigarette props, facsimiles and the like-assmoking cessation aids.

In yet another simulated smoking aid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,181 disclosesa plastic mouthpiece for simulated smoking which is said to enable theuser to experience the taste and aroma as well as the tactile sensationsof smoking a tobacco cigarette, but without the presence of smoke,without combustion, and without inhalation of harmful carcinogenicsubstances into a user's lungs. This device consists of a plasticmouthpiece containing a plug of chewing tobacco connected to a plastictube with an axial duct extending to a sealed end where a pumpingchamber is located and existing in the form of a flexibleaccordion-like, or bellows-type configuration or spring-loaded ball orposition. In another form, the device consists of a conventionalmouthtip filter, or tubular body with a flexible collapsible sidewallsealed at the far end, and a tobacco insert. As explained, in userepeated suction cycles by the user initially draw saliva through thetobacco insert to flavor it with nicotine, and then to re-circulate itback to the user's mouth on successive suction cycles, allowing the userto taste and smell the nicotine. As also disclosed, inserts other astobacco may also be used, such as menthol, various medications and thelike.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,648 there is disclosed yet another non-burningtobacco substitute in the form of a material which comprises anon-cellulose carrier homogeneously mixed with a flavor enhancingproportion of distiller's dried grain with solubles. Unlike U.S. Pat.No. 5,003,995 discussed above, this non-burning composition is devoid oftobacco, and is presented purely for the taste sensation of thedistillery byproducts and to simulate a cigarette in a manner to give auser pleasure and oral gratification.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,168 describes a smoking article employing heatconductive fingers, in the form of a cigarette-like article which issaid to be cabable of producing substantial quantities of an aerosol,both initially and over the useful life of the product, and preferablywithout significant thermal degradation of the aerosol formed, andwithout the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustionproducts or side-stream smoke. The user is said to be provided with thesensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the necessity ofburning tobacco. In structure,.the device is an elongated,cigarette-type smoking article equipped with a short carbonaceous fuelelement and a physically separate aerosol generating means, including anaerosol-forming material which is in a conductive heat exchangerelationship with the fuel element. The aerosol generating means iscontained within a unitary heat conductive chamber having two or morefinger-like extensions, each of which is in contact with some portion ofthe fuel element. In use, conductive transfer of heat from the burningfuel element to the aerosol generating means causes volatilization ofthe aerosol forming material which in turn is delivered to the user inthe form of a “smoke-like” aerosol through the mouth end of the article.Thus, an ignitable, burning fuel element is required by this discloseddevice, which generates the heat necessary to volatilize the aerosolforming substance. As described, a short, hot burning fire cone isemployed which is maintained and fueled with oxygen from puffs from theuser, and which are molded or extruded from comminuted tobacco,reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitute materials, such as moldedcellulosic materials or degraded pre-pyrolized tobacco. As furtherexplained, the fuel element preferably includes combustible carboncompounds such as one would obtain by the pyrolysis or carbonization ofcellulosic materials, including wood, cotton, rayon, tobacco, coconut,and paper, along with burn enhancing additives. Additionally, theaerosol produced is described as preferably consisting essentially ofair, water, oxides of carbon, the aerosol former, and any desiredflavors or other desired volatile materials, with trace amounts of othermaterials. The aerosol forming substance can be present in heatrupturable microcapsules, or as, for example, a solid aerosol formingsubstance, which can be polyhydric alcohols or a mixture of polyhydricalcohols, such as glycerin, triethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Asshown, such a device and method is undesirable on several fronts as itrequires a burning section and the vaporized release of harmfulchemicals, including such harmful byproducts from burning tobacco withnicotine as above described.

Finally, a smoking blend said to be effective to discourage thecigarette smoking habit is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,239. In thisproduct, a smoking blend mixture comprises tobacco or a tobaccosubstitute material and a chemical substance which is formaldehyde(formol or formalin) absorbed on the tobacco or a tobacco substitute, orparaformaldehyde of the formula (HCHO)n in which n is equal to orgreater than 3. In use this product, whether in powered, granulated, orsolution form, when ignited and burned is said to be capable ofproviding by sublimation during the combustion of the cigarette agaseous product acting on the main respiratory organs in such a way asto cause in the smoker an annoying, though purportedly harmless, feelingas well as advantageous antiseptic and soothing effects. As must beobvious to anyone, however, smoking formaldehyde or any other embalmingfluid is not thought to be particularly desirable, or advisable.

Other conventional tobacco smoking cessation aids are available in theform of patches which, while no doubt are at least somewhat effective,are oftentimes ignored or left unused as they do not provide nor oral ortactile stimulus, and are foreign to rituals associated with cigaretteuse. Cessation aids in the form of gum, lozenges, and drinkableconcoctions also lack the, perhaps pivotal, mannerisms and rituals ofhand-to-mouth behaviors which smokers are used to and most likelydesire.

Therefore, as shown above from a sampling of conventional products andmethods there is an important need for a tobacco smoking or usingcessation aid and method which does not involve the ignition andcombustion of noxious chemicals and compounds, and which does notintroduce noxious fumes to the user or others within reach of the fumes.There is also a great need for such a device which is effective to aidin substantially reducing, and preferably eliminating, a person's habitof tobacco smoking and/or use of tobacco in any form. There is anadditional great need for such tobacco use cessation aids in the form ofa cigarette prop or facsimile which effectively masquerades and/orotherwise substantially mimics a conventional cigarette or other tobaccosmoking device in appearance and/or use to a degree which at leastsatisfies the user thereof in moors, mannerisms and rituals associatedwith such cigarette use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with that set forth above there is provided by the presentinvention novel smoking and tobacco cessation devices and methods whichentirely eliminate the requirement of ignition and burning of substanceswhich emit harmful vapors, while simultaneously providingtherapeutically efficacious amounts of nicotine and/or nicotinesubstitutes, and optionally other undesirable habit inhibiting compoundsand antagonists, and other orally ingestible substances. The inventivecessation aid also simultaneously provides and satisfies, with the useof each of such devices, learned or otherwise acquired collateral orancillary activities and rituals associated with smoking behaviorsincluding the initiation and consummated act and process of lighting up,smoking and inhaling tobacco products.

More specifically, to this end there is provided a tobacco smokingand/or using cessation product and method comprising a mouthpiece meanssuitable for use with cigarettes, cigars and/or pipes or props orfacsimiles thereof, and wherein said mouthpiece means comprises a mouthtissue dissolvable substance, such as hard candy, which itself comprisesnicotine and/or other addiction-inhibiting compounds and/or orallydeliverable compounds for delivery to a user and the user's bloodstream.In different embodiments the inventive mouthpiece means can be used byitself when the desire for oral delivery of nicotine is present, or itmay be used in conjunction with any of the myriad of cigarette, cigar orpipe makes and brands available on the market or other tobacco smokingdevices by simply fitting the device to the orally deployable end of atobacco smoking device, such as a cigarette, for almost immediatenicotine consumption and fulfillment for a desired period without beingsubjected to nicotine combustion products in any way.

In other embodiments the inventive mouthpiece may be used in conjunctionwith an inventive simulated tobacco smoking device which may, in someembodiments, comprise the dimensions and/or design of conventionalcigarettes or cigars, and which may also comprise an array of flavorsand/or designs, or any sort of color scheme or pattern, or graphicdisplay.

In additional embodiments, the inventive mouthpiece means may be used inconjunction with an inventive cylindrical elongated member, preferablyin the form and shape of a conventional cigarette, such as the simulatedtobacco smoking device, or other smoking device, and manufactured ofpaper products and/or materials having the look and feel of conventionalcigarette products, or smoking products. The cylindrical membercomprises a first end which mimics the burning end of a cigarette orcigar and a second end which mimics the orally deployed end of aconventional cigarette or cigar, and wherein there is situated withinthe cylindrical elongated member in a position contiguous to the firstend, or substantially juxtaposed thereto, a heat generating means, andfurther comprising within said elongated member in communication withheat generated from an actuated heat generating means a source oftobacco, nicotine or nicotine substitute. Optionally, the inventiveelongated member, as well as the inventive simulated tobacco-smokingdevice, may additionally comprise any one or more of several habitinhibiting compounds and/or antagonists deliverable in therapeuticamounts to the user during use of the inventive product and method tocombat tobacco use cessation simultaneously with treating the user forinhibition of alcohol consumption and/or gambling tendencies and/ornarcotic use, or other maladies as desired.

Further options include the delivery from the inventive mouthpieceand/or simulated tobacco smoking device and/or elongated member anyorally deliverable substance which can be orally ingested, such asvitamins, neutraceuticals, energy enhancers, aspirin, diet aids, weightloss additives, caffeine, breath enhancers and the like, for any desiredeffect imaginable.

The invention is more fully explained and will be more fully understoodwith reference to the following Detailed Discussion of PreferredEmbodiments with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1 is a perspective view of a design of a mouthpiece means for use inthe present invention.

FIG.2 is a perspective view of yet another design of a mouthpiece meansfor use in the present invention.

FIG.3 illustrates in perspective view a user of the inventive mouthpiecemeans applying same to a conventional cigarette for the user's nicotineintake and enjoyment without the cigarette's combustion.

FIG.4 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of the inventivesimulated tobacco smoking device for use with the mouthpiece means ofFIGS. 1 through 3,

FIG. 5 is a lateral side schematic cross sectional view of an inventivesmoking cessation device of the present invention for use with theinventive mouthpiece means of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG.6 is a side perspective view of the smoking cessation device of thepresent invention of FIG.5.

FIG.7 is an additional perspective view of a user of the presentlyinventive smoking cessation device as depicted in the act of initiatinguse of the device of FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

All patent references, published patent applications and literaturereferences referred to or cited herein are hereby expressly incorporatedby reference to the same extent as if each were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Anyinconsistency between these publications and the present disclosure isintended to and shall be resolved in favor of the present disclosure.

Turning now to the present invention, in its broadest sense there isprovided a temporary alternate source of nicotine in any dosage regimenrequired or desired without exposing the user to well documentedhazardous effects of tars, carbon monoxide, and other combustionproducts produced in cigarette smoke, or from burning tobacco productsin general. Referring to the example embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, asshown, there is provided an inventive mouthpiece means for use by itselfor with any conventional cigarette, cigar or pipe means, or tobaccocombustion and inhaling means in general, or props or facsimilesthereof, including additional aspects and embodiments of the inventionas discussed in detail below. The mouthpiece means may be composed, atleast in part, of any mouth tissue dissolvable substance, and ispreferably manufactured or comprised of a dissolvable hard candyflavored substance, and which itself comprises an amount of nicotine,preferably a mouth tissue dissolvable form of nicotine, and/or otheraddiction-inhibiting compounds or orally ingestible compounds ingeneral, for delivery to a user and a user's blood stream. In apreferred embodiment, the inventive mouthpiece can be compared to aflavored lollipop laden with predetermined amounts of nicotine whichallows a smoker to get nicotine into her bloodstream when a cravingmanifests itself. As discussed in the Background of the Invention,lollipops laden with nicotine are well known, as well as theirmanufacture, and are oftentimes manufactured from nicotine salicylate,natural sweeteners, such as Stevia, flavorings, sorbitol and otheradditives. These products can be provided in any flavor imaginable,including without limitation, cherry, cinnamon, grape, apple,lemon-lime, orange, peppermint, raspberry, root beer, strawberry, pinacolada, coca-cola, chocolate and the like. Such compounds and methods ofmanufacture, including that for any possible hard candy-nicotine ladensubstance, are contemplated for use in the fabrication of the presentlyinventive mouthpieces, which can be formed or cast into any shape orconfiguration desired or contemplated, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1and 2, and to fit in a male-female fashion, or in any contemplatedfitting means arrangement, to the orally deployable ends of anyconventional cigarette, cigar, pipe or other tobacco smoking means.

The inventive mouthpiece means may be fabricated to contain any dosagelevel of nicotine as desired for delivery of any nicotine dosage regimenas desired to a user's bloodstream. For example, 2 mg of nicotine isthought to be a typical dosage of nicotine delivered from a conventionalcigarette. This amount, of course, is subject to wide variation ascontemplated for use in the many forms and embodiments of the invention.Thus, for example, the inventive mouthpiece means can be made strongeror weaker in nicotine delivery as desired, and may, in some embodiments,be provided in packages comprising a multiple of such mouthpieces ofvarying degrees of nicotine dosage or strength for a user's gradualweaning in reduced intake of nicotine with such use as desired.

It is also contemplated that in other embodiments the mouthpiece meansmay comprise in addition to nicotine, or without nicotine, otheranti-addiction compounds, discussed in detail below, and/or one or moreof any orally deliverable and ingestible substances, such as aspirin,neutraceuticals, caffeine, diet aids, weight reduction aids, sleepingaids, cholesterol reduction compounds, such as from the statin family ofdrugs, anticoagulants, vitamins, energy boosting compounds and mixtures,breath enhancers, complexion aids, and the like to achieve any desiredeffect.

As can be envisioned, the inventive mouthpiece means, used alone or incombination with a tobacco smoking device, which is unlit, helps tocontrol nicotine cravings by rapidly delivering nicotine (or othermedicine and substances) to help relieve even the worst withdrawalsymptoms, with nicotine being adsorbed/absorbed directly through mouthtissues as the mouthpiece delivery device contacts mouth tissues and isdissolved itself. Additionally, for those who fear weight gain uponsmoking cessation the inventive devices may be manufactured ofsugar-free material to check caloric intake, or, as mentioned, any ofthe several known weight reduction aids and/or substances may beadministered through the dissolvable inventive mouthpiece means.

Also contemplated for use with the present inventive mouthpiece is anindicator means, such as a colormetric reaction (color changingreaction) or graduated scale inscribed on the mouthpiece, whichmanifests itself when the desired dosage amount of nicotine isadministered, or when the amount of nicotine originally present isdepleted to a point signaling, or at least symbolically signaling, thefinish of nicotine use in or with the device, such as simulating thecompletion of smoking a cigarette.

For those who must comport to the traditional mannerisms associated withsmoking, such as the acts of holding a cigarette and the like in thehands, and hand-to-hand mouth activity, the inventive mouthpiece meansmay be cast or shaped to fit any conventional cigarette, cigar, pipe orany tobacco smoking mechanism or device, which can be utilized,preferably unlit, in a traditional manner while the user ingestsnon-combusted dosages of nicotine, or other substances described herein,for personal satisfaction without engaging in a dangerous activity. See,for example, the perspective view of a user of the inventive device inFIG. 3.

In some preferred embodiments, the mouthpiece means may be a preformedshape (a “perform”) manufactured from cardboard, composite material,plastic, wood/wood products, paper, glass, or really anything safe fororal deployment, and which comprises a coating of a mouth tissuedissolvable substance which itself comprises a form of nicotine and/orother medication and/or other orally deliverable substances. Suchpreforms can be coated by any conventional method, such as dipping orspray coating and the like with hardening dissolvable nicotine lacedsubstances, and other substances as desired.

Also as desired, a faux smoking device or prop mimicking a genuinesmoking device, such as a fake cigarette, may also be used inconjunction with the inventive mouthpiece. As described above, a widevariety of such devices are known and available. However, some such fauxor facsimile devices and props are more desirable than others, andprovide advantages to the person intent upon smoking cessation orreduction which others do not. Referring now to FIG. 4, there isillustrated in perspective view an embodiment of an inventive simulatedtobacco smoking device for use with the mouthpiece means of FIGS. 1through 3. As shown, in some preferred embodiments, the simulatedsmoking device may comprise the dimensions and/or design of conventionalcigarettes (or cigars). The simulated smoking device may also comprisean array of flavors and/or designs or any sort of color scheme orpattern, or a graphic display, such as “I don't have to smoke anymore”,or perhaps “I quit”, or any message or advertisement. Since nothing iscombusted, slogans, messages, and advertisements and the like are notdestroyed upon use, or used up, such as the mouthpiece means, but remainpresent until discarded. It is envisioned that such inventive devicesleft in various places or receptacles, such as ashtrays, when finishedwith by a user are able to provide a lasting and potent advertisingmeans for the cessation of using combusted tobacco means.

The simulated tobacco smoking device may be provided with the inventivemouthpiece means, attached or separate, in conventional packages, suchas twenty or twenty-five units, or in any packaging means as desired tosimulate that of conventional cigarettes and cigars, produced ascustomary in any country or location.

Further, the simulated smoking device may also comprise any otherconvenient feature(s), such as a circumferentially protruding ring orlip surrounding a portion near the orally deployable end of the device.When placed upon a table, or any surface, the device provided with sucha feature will not sit in a flush relationship with the surface, andwill serve to prevent the orally deployable end, such as fitted with themouthpiece means, from coming in contact with any surface or undesirablesource. The device may be composed of any conventional material, withsome nonlimiting examples including paper, plastic, wood, food material,metal, ceramic material, composites, glass, and the like.

Referring now in detail and by reference characters to FIGS. 5 through8, illustrated are several other practical embodiments of additionalaspects of the present invention which can be used in conjunction withthe inventive mouthpiece means, and which are designed to beparticularly effective to deliver the, aromatic aroma and taste of hotor heated tobacco products, and optionally a nicotine dose, to the userwithout the noxious fumes and byproducts associated with or producedfrom tobacco combustion, or combustion of any material. Theseembodiments and additional aspects of the present invention also rely onthe ability to effectively simulate the initiation and use of aconventional cigarette, or other tobacco smoking devices such as cigars,through similar acts of, for example, reaching for a cigarette,initiating the use thereof by tapping the end of the device on a surfaceor flicking or pinching a portion of the cigarette by hand or otherhand-device coordinated initiation, holding the cigarette for anintended use period, and taking a drag and inhaling hot or warm tobaccolaced vapors, and optionally simultaneously tasting and ingesting anicotine dose, all while simulating puffing on a cigarette. In othermodes, such aspects and embodiments of the invention are employed as anoral medication delivery device which is effective to reduce, oreliminate, the incidence of tobacco smoking and/or using whilesimultaneously treating a second dependency in a person, such asalcoholism, drug (especially opiate) addition, and gambling addiction ina person.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this aspect of the invention, there is providedan inventive device which may mimic or otherwise approximate indimensional size characteristics of length, width, shape, and preferablyweight, a conventional cigarette (or cigar, which is not shown herein).Referring to the figures, the device comprises an elongated tubular orcylindrical chamber 2 with a first end 6 which, in this example, mimicsthe ignitable and burning end of a cigarette (or cigar) and a second end8 which mimics the orally deployed end of a conventional cigarette, andadapted for oral suction. Typical dimensions of the chamber may be, forexample, from about 7 to about 11 cm long, and having a diameter of fromabout 7 to about 10 mm.

Material construction of the chamber may be from any conventionalmaterials used to manufacture cigarettes, or cigars, and may include byway of non-limiting examples, paper, plastic, such as propylene/styrenecopolymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, lowdensity polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and the like,ceramics, wood, bamboo, natural and synthetic fibers, and any and allcombinations thereof.

Again turning to the figures, situated within the elongated cylindricalor tubular chamber 2, preferably in a position contiguous, orsubstantially juxtaposed, to the first end 6 is a heat generating means10, which can undergo an exothermic reaction to liberate a quantity ofheat, preferably a substantial quantity, to heat the surrounding air oratmosphere within the tubular chamber 2 to a noticeable degree.

Heat generating means 10 may be any material or composition known in theart which is capable of undergoing an exothermic reaction and generatingheat, such as, for example, an anhydrous form of an inorganichydrate-forming salt which releases heat upon taking up water ofhydration, inclusive of, without limitation, anhydrous calcium chloride,sodium sulfate, aluminum chloride, magnesium carbonate, and the like.Other exemplified heat generating means may be various iron comprisingcompositions, such as, for example, powdered iron mixed with activatedcarbon, water, salt, and wood fiber, such as cellulose, which uponcontact with oxygen in air undergoes an exothermic reaction, such asused in heat generating means and devices used by athletes or personsundergoing exercise activities. Additional examples of heat generatingmeans may be of the type which is in a liquid or semi-liquid state andwhich upon crystallization, such as instigated by a frictional orclicking means undergo an exothermic transformation and liberate heat.Such devices, which can comprise sodium acetate or food grade salt andwater, are well known, and are the basis for providing heat generationin many conventional heating pad means and the like.

The heat generating means 10 may be present as dispersed throughout aporous material, or porous matrix material, known in the art, such asclay or vermiculite particles, or throughout a polymeric matrix supportmaterial, such as a plurality of fused polymer particles to provide asupporting structure having a dispersion of microscopic-sizedinterconnecting voids and spaces therethrough. Preferably, in such anembodiment, the heat generating means 10 is dispersed evenly throughoutthe porous material, and is present in the tubular chamber 2 such thatupon actuation of the heat generating means 10 heat is substantially,homogeneously emitted or liberated within chamber 2. There is alsopresent in another embodiment, preferably situated about thecircumferential boundary 1 or periphery of the heating means 10, andsituated between boundary 1 and chamber 2, a longitudinally disposed airpassageway 3 which will allow air to pass into end 8 and past theheating means 10 through tubular chamber 2, and past all othercomponents to deliver hot tobacco aroma laced air and whatever else isintended, such as a nicotine dose or other substance, to the user whenshe has activated the cigarette prop device and takes a drag, orotherwise sucks on end 6.

In some embodiments heat generating means 10 may be a solid, orsemisolid, composition which is capable of liberating heat simply uponexposure to the atmosphere, such as when a ruptureable or breakablebarrier or containerized portion in which it is situated is opened tothe atmosphere. Such compositions are well known and available, and areconveniently used in this aspect of the invention. In other embodimentsheat generating means 10 may be separated in chamber 2 from an enclosedwater delivery source (not shown) used to actuate the chemical(s) in theheat generating means 10, as the case may be, by a rupturable, orbreakable water impervious film in communication with, or withinreaction forming or reaching distance, to heat generating means 10. Inanother contemplated embodiment, a plurality of tiny water reservoirs ordelivery sources, preferably in microspheres, and each enclosed by abreakable water impervious film, is present in reactive communicationwith heat generating means 10, such as in a surrounding manner orconfiguration, or dispersed throughout a porous matrix in which is alsodispersed heat generating means 10, such that rupture of reservoirs willmix water with heat generating means 10 to initiate or produce anexothermic heat generating reaction, to thereby liberate a quantity ofheat within tubular member 2. Various other embodiments are contemplatedfor the placement and form of the heat generating means 10 and waterreservoirs(s) or sources 12, if required, within tubular chamber 2, someexhibiting better or less effectiveness in the present invention thanothers, and any of which may be used in the invention.

Also situated within tubular chamber 2 is a source of tobacco 14 and/ora tobacco substitute and/or nicotine and/or a nicotine substitute, whichis within communication of heat generated from heat generating means 10and heated air from air passageway 3 upon actuation thereof. Preferably,the tobacco source, or equivalents and other substances and the like, isdisposed about a confined space in chamber 2 and can be held in place byany retaining means, such as an air pervious paper or polymer matrix. Inuse of the inventive device, upon actuation of heat generating means 10and the subsequent liberation of heat, a user will place the second end8 of tubular chamber 2 in her mouth in a simulation of smoking acigarette and draw or suck on end 8 as she would a cigarette, andreceive a rush of heated air laced with tobacco aroma and taste. Thisaction may be performed alone or in conjunction with the inventivenicotine laden mouthpiece means, to both realistically simulate smokinga cigarette while simultaneously receiving a person satisfying amount,dosage or supply of nicotine, and without receiving tobacco combustionproducts of any kind.

In other embodiments, whether used alone or with the nicotine ladenmouthpiece, a person-satisfying amount of nicotine may also be presentwithin the tubular chamber 2 in a position effective to reach the mouthof the faux smoker upon suction of end 8 in an cigarette drag andinhaling action to provide a satisfying dose of nicotine along with theheated aroma of tobacco, in similar manner as a conventional cigarette,but without the toxic and dangerous combustion byproducts emitted fromconventional cigarettes. Such deliverable store of nicotine may bepresent and contained in chamber 2 for delivery by any conventionalmeans used for delivery of nicotine replacement to a user forconsumption. What is meant by “person satisfying amount” as used hereinis an amount or quantity of nicotine delivered to a user uponapplication of oral suction which is sufficient to reduce a smoker'sneed from burnt or combusted tobacco, and is generally known in the art.Typical ranges can be from about 1 mg to about 40 mg of nicotineprovided from the inventive devices which may be used several timesthroughout a twenty-four hour period in place of conventional cigarettesto deliver a recommended total daily dose of nicotine of approximately480 mg for the average smoker, as published, for example, in U.S. patentPublication No. 2003/0111088. This level will greatly vary, of course,depending upon the person and a probable host of other factors which isnot the focus of this invention. In any event, nicotine intake perperson per dose using any form or embodiment of the present inventioncan be conveniently monitored, as blood levels of nicotine can bereadily determined by gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorousdetection as described in, for example, Jacob, Chromatography,222:61-70(1981).

The source of nicotine used in this aspect of the invention may bepresent in any useful form, such as levo nicotine, dextro nicotine, oras a racemic mixture thereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms ofnicotine are also suitable for use, with non-limiting examples beingdihydrochloride, sulfate, bitartrate, salicylate, hydrogen tartrate, andhemisulfate forms. The term “nicotine” as used herein also includes allknown analogs of nicotine, which may or may not have a similarpharmacological effect to nicotine produced from conventionalcigarettes. A convenient source of nicotine, analogs and various saltforms is Sigma-Aldrich Co., Inc., St. Louis. Mo. Additionally, it iscontemplated that nicotine be present in granulated form, or in smallgrain form so as not to be noticed in the mouth of a user, or it may bepresent in powered form or incorporated into microspheres.

Tobacco substitutes and/or nicotine substitutes may also be used in thepresent invention in conjunction with or in place of tobacco and/ornicotine. Such tobacco substitutes are well known.

In embodiments where the heat generating means 10 is capable ofundergoing an exothermic reaction to liberate heat upon exposure to theatmosphere, such means may be enclosed by a breakable film or barrierprior to use, and placed at the first end 6 of tubular chamber 2, whichmay be ruptured or opened and heat generated upon tapping the device,flicking or pinching its end, or other action such as in preparing tosmoke a cigarette. In other embodiments, by placement of a water sourcesubstantially juxtaposed to the heat generating means 10 at the firstend 6 of tubular chamber 2, the faux smoker may tap the device on asurface, or flick or pinch it, as one would a conventional cigarette, torupture water reservoirs(s) to enable water to reach and react with heatgenerating means 10, such as to mimic a conventional cigarette lightingup operation, and proceed to take a drag or suck on the device, as witha conventional cigarette, with the user receiving a heated tobacco aromalaced stream of air and optionally a satisfying dose of nicotine, tothereby mimic the ritual of smoking a cigarette, or cigar as the casemay be.

As in any conventional cigarette, or tobacco smoking device in general,various features may be included in the present inventive device, suchas the incorporation of one or more lumens to provide a plurality ofsmaller cross-sectional flow paths in an attempt to optimize flowvelocity and flow volume of tobacco aroma laced heated air, and/ornicotine or other drugs if present, in a rapid and uniform delivery fromtubular chamber 2 to a user. In another contemplated embodiment thenicotine may be conveniently located in one or more lumens, which may beof the same or varying sizes.

It is additionally contemplated that the nicotine be present in apreformulated solution or as a nicotine suspension for dosage deliveryto a user of any amount of nicotine desired, for example, a contemplateddaily 24-hour dosage and the number of inventive devices contemplatedfor faux smoking within that time frame. The user taking a drag on theinventive device, sucking in the heated air by the user and drawing samethrough the tubular chamber 2 will facilitate delivery of nicotinesolution through end 4 into the user's mouth.

As described above, it is also contemplated in this aspect of theinvention that the device comprising tubular chamber 2 in someembodiments be equipped or used with the inventive mouthpiece means, forexample, as a simulated “filter” portion, which, as discussed above, maycomprise nicotine, or otherwise a substance effective to act upon and/oractivate nicotine receptors in a user thereof, and which may be embeddedwith, or having otherwise incorporated therein, any amount and kind offlavoring means to cut the acrid taste of tobacco and other productswhile still playing a ritual with the inventive faux cigarette device,and perhaps optionally receiving a dose of nicotine or otherhabit-inhibiting drug or antagonist, or other orally ingestiblesubstance, all of which is explained in greater detail hereinbelow. Insuch embodiments, the elongated tube may or may not comprise nicotine ora nicotine receptor-active substance, or other substances, and beemployed solely to pass heated tobacco aroma to the user.

In some embodiments a flavoring means may be incorporated anywherewithin the tubular chamber 2, including the tubular chamber itself, suchthat the device tastes pleasant to the user before, during or afteractivation of the device. Some examples of flavoring may be sugar,cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, bubble gum, fruit,chocolate, anise, nut, coffee, tobacco of course, or any combination asdesired.

In some additional embodiments of this invention the device is effectiveto deliver drugs and/or orally ingestible substances other thannicotine, or such drugs and/or substances along with nicotine, tosuccessfully treat or at least medicate an array of habit disordersalong with reducing the incidence of nicotine use or smoking. Somenon-limiting examples include the addition of naltrexone and/or naloxoneor other opiate antagonist, which are known as efficacious fordecreasing alcohol consumption and for treating gambling disorders aswell. Such treatment and various dosage regimens of these drugs forvarious indications are reported in the art. See, for example, Krystal,N. England J. Med., 345: 1734-1739(2001); Anton, J. Clin.Psychopharmacol., 21:72-77(2001); and Heinala, J. Clin.Psychophararmacol., 21:287-292(2001). Such drugs and orally ingestiblesubstances may be present and made available for delivery to a user byany conventional means.

As nothing is combusted in the present inventive device it iscontemplated that virtually any drug or drug combination and/or orallyingestible substance may be administered by the device for treatment ofa plurality of indications, maladies, diseases and the like, along withreducing the incidence of smoking. Here, some non-limiting examplesinclude aspirin, any cholesterol lowering drug such as of the statinfamily, e.g. lipitor, neutraceuticals, antidepressants such as Prozacand Wellbutrin, a smoking incidence inhibitor itself, caffeine, weightreduction aids, breath enhancers, cold medication, and anything that canbe orally deliverable and orally ingestible by humans to treat, affect,effect or satisfy any desire or end result.

It is further contemplated for inclusion in the present inventivetubular chamber 2 a cold generating means which when actuated willundergo an endothermic reaction to chill the surrounding incoming air inair passageway 3 such that a user will receive cooled or chilled airlaced with tobacco aroma and optionally a dose of nicotine or nicotinesubstitute and/or other substance(s) as described herein. The coldgenerating means may be employed by itself or in conjunction with theheat generating means discussed herein, such that a user may have achoice of which to actuate, or perhaps both simultaneously, depending onflavor preferences. The cold generating means may composed of anymaterial known in the art to be capable of undergoing an endothermicreaction which absorbs heat from a surrounding environment to chillsurrounding air, objects or substances it is in contact with. Onenon-limiting example includes the mixture of ammonium nitrate and water.In this embodiment a water source is present in an impervious, breakablemembrane as described above, which when ruptured by a user's actions,such as pinching or tapping, releases water to come in contact with anear or adjacent source of ammonium nitrate to create an endothermicreaction. Microcapsules of water are also contemplated, or any reservoirmeans such as described above. Another non-limiting example is the useof ammonium chloride and urea, which when mixed produces an endothermicreaction.

As will be readily appreciated by anyone knowledgeable of or associatedwith tobacco use in any way, whether it be an actual user or observersthereof, the smoking cessation devises and methods of the presentinvention, their production, distribution, sale, offering for sale,licensing and/or advertising, or advertising in conjunction therewithaffords many advantages, not heretofore available, to conductingbusiness or businesses, especially to those persons and businessesassociated with the smoking reduction and/or smoking cessation industry,and the safe cigarette industry in general. Many of those personsassociated with the health and insurance industries, and fire preventionindustries and/or security industries, will also appreciate the businessadvantages afforded by the present invention including all of itsvarious aspects and possible embodiments.

It will be further appreciated by those persons skilled in the art thatthe embodiments described herein are merely exemplary of the principalsof the invention. While some preferred embodiments have been describedherein, modification in any way may become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art following the teaching of the invention, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims. Additionally, any and all embodiments described hereinare merely for illustrative purposes only and are specifically notintended to limit the scope of the invention and/or claims in any way.

1. An orally deployable tobacco smoking cessation means adapted for usein a fitting relationship with a tobacco smoking device, and comprisinga substance effective to act upon and/or activate nicotine receptors ina user thereof.
 2. The deployable means of claim 1 wherein saidsubstance is present in an amount to at least in part satiate a user'sneed for nicotine.
 3. The deployable means of claim 1 wherein saidsubstance is selected from the group consisting of nicotine and nicotinesubstitutes.
 4. The deployable means of claim 1 which is composed of amouth tissue-dissolvable substance.
 5. The deployable means of claim 1,wherein said means comprises the shape of a mouthpiece means adapted foruse with tobacco smoking devices.
 6. The deployable means of claim 5,wherein said means comprises a preform in the shape of a mouthpiecemeans adapted for use with tobacco smoking devices, and wherein saidpreform is coated with a mouth tissue dissolvable substance whichcomprises a substance effective to act upon and/or activate nicotinereceptors in a user thereof.
 7. The deployable means of claim 1 whichfurther comprises a flavor means.
 8. The deployable means of claim 1which further comprises a substance effective to act as an antagonist tosubstances and/or acts associated with behavior deemed undesirable bythe user of the deployable means, and/or which said user is attemptingto avoid.
 9. The deployable means of claim 8 wherein said antagonist isat least in part effective to inhibit the user's desire and/or affectthe user's intake of opiates, alcohol, and participation in gamblingactivities.
 10. The deployable means of claim 9 wherein said antagonistis selected from the group consisting of naltrexone, naloxone andderivatives thereof.
 11. The deployable means of claim 1 wherein saidmeans comprises a hard candy mouth tissue dissolvable substance, whichfurther comprises a substance effective to act on and/or activatenicotine receptors in the user thereof.
 12. The deployable means ofclaim 3 wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting oflevo nicotine, dextro nicotine, recemic mixtures thereof,pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms of nicotine, includingdihydrochloride, sulfate, bitartrate, salicylate, hydrogen tartrate andhemisulfate forms, and all known analogs thereof and mixtures thereof.13. The deployable means of claim 1 further comprising an orallydeployable and/or ingestible substance effective to at least in partsatisfy an end result desired by the user.
 14. The deployable means ofclaim 13 wherein said orally deployable and/or ingestible substance isselected from the group consisting of pharmaceutically active substancesincluding Prozac and its generic forms, antidepressants,anti-psychotics, Wellbutrin and its generic forms, cholesterol loweringdrugs including the statin family drugs, anti-viral compounds,anti-bacterial compounds, anti-infective compounds, anti-fungalcompounds, vaccines, antacid compounds, anti-hypertension compounds,anti-cancer compounds, skin color enhancers, prophylactics, birthcontrol, caffeine, aspirin, weight reduction aids, appetite suppressors,weight increasing aids, cold medication, breath enhancers,neutraceuticals, dietary supplements, sleeping aids, anticoagulants,vitamins, energy boosting compounds, complexion aids, tooth decayinhibitors, and mixtures thereof.
 15. The deployable means of claim 1further comprising indicating means effective for indicating thepresence of available substance effective to act upon and/or activatenicotine receptors in a user thereof.
 16. The deployable means of claim1 further comprising indicating means effective for simulating theindication of the presence of available substance effective to act uponand/or activate nicotine receptors in a user thereof.
 17. A simulatedtobacco smoking device generally comprising the dimensions andappearance of a cigarette or cigar, and adapted to form a fittingrelationship with the orally deployable smoking cessation means of anyof claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1.3, 14, 15, and 16 18.The simulated tobacco smoking device of claim 17 further comprising afeature selected from the group consisting of a fragrance, color scheme,flavoring, advertisements, messages, graphics and a circumferentiallyprotruding ring or lip surrounding a portion near the orally deployableend of the device.
 19. The simulated tobacco smoking device of claim 17further comprising a substance effective to act upon and/or activatenicotine receptors in the user thereof.
 20. The simulated tobaccosmoking device of claim 17 further comprising a substance effective toact as an antagonist and which is at least in part effective to inhibita user's desire and/or affect the user's intake of opiates, alcohol, andparticipation in gambling activities.
 21. The simulated tobacco smokingdevice of claim 19 wherein said antagonist is selected from the groupconsisting of naltrexone, naloxone, and derivatives thereof.
 22. Thesimulated tobacco smoking device of claim 17 further comprising anorally deployable and/or ingestible substance effective to at least inpart satisfy an end result desired by the user thereof.
 23. Thesimulated tobacco smoking device of claim 22 wherein said substance isselected from the group consisting of pharmaceutically active substancesincluding Prozac and its generic forms, anti-depressants,anti-psychotics, Wellbutrin and its generic forms, cholesterol loweringdrugs including the statin family of drugs, anti-viral compounds,anti-bacterial compounds, anti-infective compounds, anti-fungalcompounds, vaccines, antacid compounds, anti-hypertension compounds,anti-cancer compounds, skin color enhancers, prophylactics, birthcontrol compounds, caffeine, aspirin, weight reduction aids, appetitesuppressors, weight increasing aids, cold medication, breath enhancers,neutraceuticals, dietary supplements, sleeping aids, anticoagulants,vitamins, energy boosting compounds, complexion aids, tooth decayinhibitors, and mixtures thereof.
 24. A container means comprising aplurality of the simulated tobacco smoking device of claim
 17. 25. Thecontainer means of claim 24 further comprising a plurality of the orallydeployable smoking cessation means of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11,12,13, 14,15, and
 16. 26. A tobacco smoking cessation meanscomprising an elongated tube comprising a first end and an orallydeployable second end, and which further comprises a heating means in aposition contiguous or substantially juxtaposed to the first end whichis effective to undergo an exothermic reaction to liberate heat, alongitudinally disposed air passageway surrounding at least a portion ofsaid heating means and in communication with said first and second ends,and a source of tobacco or tobacco substitute situated therein, suchthat upon activation of said heat generating means to liberate heat auser may orally draw air from the first end through the elongated tubepast the heat generating means through the source of tobacco to orallyreceive heated air comprising tobacco aroma and/or taste.
 27. Thesmoking cessation means of claim 26 which is generally of the shape andweight of a cigarette or cigar.
 28. The smoking cessation means of claim26 further comprising a person satisfying amount of a substanceeffective to act upon and/or activate nicotine receptors in a userthereof.
 29. The smoking cessation means of claim 28 wherein saidsubstance is selected from the group consisting of nicotine and nicotinesubstitutes.
 30. The smoking cessation means of claim 28 furthercomprising a substance effective to act as an antagonist which at leastin part is effective to inhibit a user's desire and/or affect the user'sintake of opiates, alcohol and participation in gambling activities. 31.The smoking cessation means of claim 30 wherein said substance isselected from the group consisting of naltexone, naloxone andderivatives thereof.
 32. The smoking cessation means of claim 28 furthercomprising an orally deployable and/or ingestible substance effective toat least in part satisfy an end result desired by the user.
 33. Thesmoking cessation means of claim 32 wherein said orally deployableand/or ingestible substance is selected from the group consisting ofpharmaceutically active substances including Prozac and its genericforms, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, Wellbutrin and its genericforms, cholesterol lowering drugs including the statin family of drugs,anti-viral compounds, anti-bacterial compounds, anti-infectivecompounds, anti-fungal compounds, vaccines, antacid compounds,anti-hypertension compounds, anti-cancer compounds, skin colorenhancers, prophylactics, birth control compounds, caffeine, aspirin,weight reduction aids, appetite suppressors, weight increasing aids,cold medication, breath enhancers, neutraceuticals, dietary supplements,sleeping aids, anti-coagulants, vitamins, energy boosting compounds,complexion aids, tooth decay inhibitors, and mixtures thereof.
 34. Thesmoking cessation means of claim 28 further comprising a featureselected from the group consisting of a fragrance, color scheme,flavoring, advertisements, messages, graphics and a circumferentiallyprotruding ring or lip surrounding a portion near the orally deployableend of the means.
 35. A container means comprising a plurality of thesmoking cessation means of claim
 28. 36. The container means of claim 35further comprising a plurality of the orally deployable smokingcessation means of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, and
 16. 37. A method of conducting business comprising activitiesselected from the group consisting of manufacturing, havingmanufactured, advertising, offering for sale, selling, distributing andlicensing an orally deployable tobacco smoking cessation means ofclaim
 1. 38. A method of conducting business comprising activitiesselected from the group consisting of manufacturing, havingmanufactured, advertising, offering for sale, selling, distributing, andlicensing a simulated tobacco smoking device of claim
 17. 39. A methodof conducting business comprising activities selected from the groupconsisting of manufacturing, having manufactured, advertising, offeringfor sale, selling, distributing, and licensing a smoking cessation meansof claim 28.